When striped bass are in Cape Cod Bay
Striped bass fishing out of Barnstable / Cape Cod Bay harbors runs from a late May arrival into early October. The port page carries the ramps, entrances and local conditions; this section covers timing only.
Fish are in the bay by late May. The Rock Harbor fleet fishes May through early October, and Magnanimous runs May through October from Sesuit Harbor. For the migration and biology behind that window, see the striped bass guide. Read the NWS Cape Cod Bay marine forecast before every run.
Where boats run for striped bass from Barnstable, Sesuit and Rock Harbor
Boats from these three harbors work three areas: the Barnstable Harbor rips and shoals, the open water off Sesuit Harbor, and Billingsgate Shoal.
Barnstable Harbor rips and shoals
Boats out of Barnstable Harbor fish the rips and shoals close to the harbor. Helen H trips aboard Starfish run 6 hours and depart from Barnstable Harbor.
Off Sesuit Harbor
Boats run out into Cape Cod Bay from Sesuit Harbor to open-water schools in about 80 ft. The grounds section below covers that water in more detail.
Billingsgate Shoal
Billingsgate Shoal extends from a few miles north of Sesuit Harbor to the northernmost point of Wellfleet. Boats from Sesuit and Rock Harbor run to it, and the fleet fishes it more than any other named ground.
Grounds and structure
The bay’s striper ground runs from a 15 ft shoal top to 90 ft of water west of it. Those depths determine the methods covered after the table.
| Ground | Depth | Location note |
|---|---|---|
| Billingsgate Shoal top | 15 ft | rarely deeper than 15 ft |
| The Square | 90 ft | west of Billingsgate Shoal |
| Sesuit school area | about 80 ft | out into the bay from Sesuit Harbor |
| Stellwagen Bank | not given | offshore |
| Brewster and Dennis reef | not given | proposed, not confirmed built |
Billingsgate’s edges and the drop to 90 ft west of it show on Chart Contours in Breakpoint. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Billingsgate Shoal: 15 ft on top
The shoal top is rarely deeper than 15 ft. When fish are up on it, this is casting water.
The Square: 90 ft west of Billingsgate
Old-timers call the 90 ft water west of Billingsgate Shoal The Square. At this depth the wire line comes out.
Sesuit open-water school area: about 80 ft
The school area sits at about 80 ft, out into Cape Cod Bay from Sesuit Harbor.
Stellwagen Bank: offshore
Stellwagen Bank is offshore, outside the bay. For the wider picture, see striped bass across the Northeast (see also the wider Atlantic Northeast guide).
The proposed Brewster and Dennis reef
An artificial reef off Brewster and Dennis is proposed and not confirmed built.
How it is fished locally
Local methods follow the depth: wire line for deep water, casting gear for the shoal top.
Wire-line jigging with bucktails
Wire-line jigging with bucktails is the method for working depth, meaning The Square at 90 ft and the deeper water off the shoal.
Casting soft plastics, slim swimmers and sand eel jigs
Soft plastics, slim swimming plugs and sand eel jigs make up the casting set, used when fish are up on the 15 ft top of Billingsgate.
First light on the outgoing tide
Billingsgate fishes best on the outgoing tide, and casting at first light is the standard start.
Who fishes for them out of this port
These operators list striped bass:
- Liberty: 46-foot Hatteras sportfisher. Liberty Fishing Charters
- Hindsight: Capt. Brett Wilson and crew. Hindsight Sportfishing
- Stunmai II: Capt. Hap Farrell. Cape Cod Bay Charters
- Rock Harbor fleet: Columbia (Capt. Marc Costa) and Stunmai II, out of Rock Harbor. Rock Harbor Charter Service
- The Magnanimous: Capt. Mark Haley, out of Sesuit Harbor, formerly Shannon Sea Sportfishing. Magnanimous Sportfishing
- F/V Sonny B: Capt. Randy Black. Sonny B Sportfishing
- Starfish: Helen H, 6-hour trips out of Barnstable Harbor.
For other coastal and offshore gamefish, see the gamefish guides.
FAQ
When do stripers arrive in Cape Cod Bay?
By late May. The Rock Harbor fleet fishes May through early October, and Magnanimous runs May through October from Sesuit Harbor.
How deep is Billingsgate Shoal?
The top is rarely deeper than 15 ft. The shoal extends from a few miles north of Sesuit Harbor to the northernmost point of Wellfleet. The Square, at 90 ft, lies west of it.
What is The Square?
The Square is the old-timers’ name for the 90 ft water west of Billingsgate Shoal. It is worked with wire-line jigging and bucktails.
What tide is best on Billingsgate?
The outgoing tide. Casting soft plastics, slim swimming plugs and sand eel jigs at first light is the standard approach.
Is there an artificial reef off Brewster or Dennis?
An artificial reef off Brewster and Dennis is proposed. It is not confirmed built.
Which charters fish stripers from Rock Harbor or Sesuit?
Rock Harbor Charter Service fishes from Rock Harbor, with Columbia and Stunmai II listed. The Magnanimous fishes from Sesuit Harbor.
